- Troy Kotsur
Troy Kotsur (born c.1968) is a
deaf Americanactor .Personal
Kotsur was born and raised in the city of
Mesa, Arizona . He has been deaf since his birth. He went toGallaudet University to major in Theater from 1987-1989. Additionally, he attended Mesa College, Pierce College and American River College to study acting and was an intern at KTSP-TV in Phoenix, Arizona working as an editor, researcher and interviewer [http://www.csdf.k12.ca.us/student_life/drama/drama2002/director.htm] .He married fellow deaf actress
Deanne Bray . On8 September 2005 she gave birth to daughter Kyra Monique Kotsur, who weighed 7lb 11ozs.Career
Theatre roles: Troy has been involved with many Deaf West shows, including the 2003 Broadway revival of "Big River" as Pap/The Duke. He has performed principle roles in Orphansm Nedea, Equus and Sleuth with
Bernard Bragg and Romeo and Juliet, Verona Circus and Mice and Men. He traveled coast to coast in the USA with the National Theater for the Deaf, as well as in Northern Ireland and South Africa [http://www.csdf.k12.ca.us/student_life/drama/drama2002/director.htm] .Also, Troy was a guest artist performing at California Arts Institution in Valiance as Hamlet and the Ghost in "Shakespeare's Hamlet Project", translated from
Shakespeare 's "Twelfth Night" English to concepts in American Sign Language at Yale University in 1999. In productions at the Herberger Theater in Phoenix he was Johnny Merrick in "The Elephant Man" and the defense attorney in "The Night of January 16th" [http://www.csdf.k12.ca.us/student_life/drama/drama2002/director.htm] .He recently received two awards from Los Angeles Weekly and the 8th annual Artistic Director Achievement Award, Valley Theater League of California for the leading actor in
Tennessee Williams ' "A Streetcar Named Desire". He was nominated for his leading role in "A Streetcar Named Desire" by the Los Angeles Drama Circle Critics award, as well. He has been nominated by Los Angeles Ovation for "Featured Actor in a Musical" in "Oliver! " performed at theDeaf West Theater . While at Gallaudet University, he was awarded Best Actor for his role as Sepp Schmitz in "The Firebugs " and as Kurt Paxton in "In a Room Somewhere" [http://www.csdf.k12.ca.us/student_life/drama/drama2002/director.htm] .Television roles: Troy was in
Whoopi Goldberg 's tv show "Strong Medicine " on cable channelLifetime Television . He guest starred in 6 episodes of his wife's show "". He also was on the special [http://www.tv.com/csi-ny/silent-night/episode/913991/summary.html deaf themed episode] (Wed 13 December 06) of . Troy also guest starred on the television seriesDoc as a deaf baseball player.Other
Troy has directed more than 10 theatrical productions, including LA Times' Best Bet Weekend "
Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp" atDeaf West Theatre [http://www.csdf.k12.ca.us/student_life/drama/drama2002/director.htm] .Current activities
Troy is a freelance instructor doing theatrical workshops at many different schools, from elementary to college. He teaches many deaf/HH students at Sedona Southwest Arts in Action, Inc. He continues to train and strives to improve his own acting, too, at theater schools, including
Deaf West Theatre 's Summer Drama School and Gary Austin's Improvisation Workshop.Troy knows in his heart that he will always enjoy working in the world of theaters [http://www.csdf.k12.ca.us/student_life/drama/drama2002/director.htm] !
External links
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* [http://www.csdf.k12.ca.us/student_life/drama/drama2002/director.htm Fremont, CA School For The Deaf Troy Kotsur Info]
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